The Code of Hammurabi and Civilization

The Code of Hammurabi and Civilization

Civilization is a broad term that can be defined based on the characteristics of civilized people or society. Civilized societies in ancient times were characterized by peace and order and receiving orders from a higher authority. The code of Hammurabi contains various features that demonstrate that it was created by people who met the definition of civilization in the textbook, suggesting that civilization is the level of development at which people coexist peacefully in a society.

The code of Hammurabi provides various codes regulating how people in society should interact to maintain peace and order, thus bringing out the definition of civilization in the textbook. One of the law codes is the code stating, “If any one steal cattle or sheep, or an ass, or a pig or a goat, if it belong to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold therefor; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death” (King 2). This code presents evidence of social classes, including freedmen and figures of authority such as the king, the court, and gods. The second law code states, “If a chieftain or a man (common soldier), who has been ordered to go upon the king’s highway for war does not go, but hires a mercenary, if he withholds the compensation, then shall this officer or man be put to death, and he who represented him shall take possession of his house” (King 3). This code demonstrates the existence of complex institutions, including the soldiers going to war and the king who orders them to go to war. The third law code is the code that states, “If a builder builds a house for someone and completes it, he shall give him a fee of two shekels in money for each sar of surface” (King 12). This code demonstrates the existence of specialized workers with specific skills to complete specific tasks that not everyone in society can complete, which is one of the characteristics of civilization.

Works Cited

King, L. W., translator. “The Avalon Project: Code of Hammurabi.” Lillian Goldman Law Library, 2008, avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamframe.asp.

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our first assignment consists of two questions worth 5 points each. Both questions will require you to consult primary source readings posted to Canvas. Your answers should be written as formal essays, with an introductory paragraph and body paragraphs led by strong topic sentences.

The Code of Hammurabi and Civilization

Consider the law code posted to Module 1 in Canvas. How do we know that the people who created this code met our textbook definition of civilization? Your essay must cite at least THREE separate laws from the code and explain how they present evidence of at least THREE characteristics of civilization.